News

07/31/2008 2:24 PM - The Chicago Blackhawks announced today the team has signed Hockey Hall of Famer Scotty Bowman to a three-year contract as Senior Advisor, Hockey Operations.

“Scotty Bowman, more than anyone in hockey today, embodies the traits we are integrating into this organization in order to bring a Stanley Cup to Chicago. He symbolizes excellence, performance, work ethic and delivering results. So do we,” said W. Rockwell “Rocky” Wirtz, Chairman.

Bowman has been a member of 11 Stanley Cup winning teams since 1973, which includes an NHL record nine as a head coach. The Montreal native is also the NHL’s all-time leader with 1,224 regular-season wins and 223 postseason victories. Prior to joining the Blackhawks, Bowman, who has held a position in professional hockey since 1967, served as a consultant in the Detroit Red Wings front office for the last seven years.

“We are privileged to welcome the legendary Scotty Bowman to the Chicago Blackhawks family,” Blackhawks President John McDonough said. “His hockey genius, vision and energy are a perfect fit with our goal to win the Stanley Cup.”

“I have been a life-long fan of Scotty Bowman and I am truly humbled to have him join our Hockey Operations staff. He is one of the greatest minds in the history of our sport and will undoubtedly be a great asset to us in our day-to-day operations,” Blackhawks General Manager Dale Tallon said.

Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a builder in 1991, Bowman is the only man in the history of the sport to lead three different teams to the Stanley Cup and has reached the league Finals 13 times as a bench boss. As a head coach, he has captured the Cup with the Montreal Canadiens (1973, 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979), Pittsburgh Penguins (1992) and Red Wings (1997, 1998 and 2002). He served as the director of player development on Pittsburgh’s 1991 Stanley Cup winning club and most recently celebrated his 11th league title with the Red Wings last season.

Bowman has coached an NHL record 2,141 contests and has captured the Jack Adams Award as the league’s best coach twice (1977 and 1996). He also spent time behind the St. Louis Blues’ bench (1967-71) and the Buffalo Sabres’ bench (1979-87), while guiding his squads to the postseason in 29 of his 30 years as a head coach. He has coached in an NHL-best 13 All-Star games, which includes his final season in 2002, when he led the Red Wings to the Stanley Cup after posting 51 wins and 116 points during the regular-season. Statistically, Bowman registered his best season in 1995-96 when his Detroit team racked up an NHL record 62 wins.

Bowman broke into coaching after a head injury ended his playing career in juniors and accepted his first NHL head coaching gig with the St. Louis Blues during their expansion season in 1967-68 at the age of 34.

He is also a member of the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame since his induction in 2004. Other major awards include the Lester Patrick Trophy in 2001 presented by the NHL and USA Hockey for outstanding service to hockey in the United States and the Wayne Gretzky Award of Excellence, presented to him in 2002 by the United States Hockey Hall of Fame.

He and his wife, Suella, have five children, including Stan, who is currently in his eighth season with the Blackhawks and second as Assistant General Manager, Hockey Operations.